Chapter 223
In an alley notorious for its illicit activities.
Arabe was struggling to stand up in a cramped, damp room. Her legs were weak, and she could
barely manage to move with the support of the stained and disgusting walls.
The men on the ship had skillfully severed the tendons in her hands and feet, only leaving her able to
perform basic tasks like eating, but with much difficulty.
After being sold to the owners of this ce, she was confined to this small room, where she entertained
clients around the clock.
As a neer, even with a scar on her face, she was fresh and alluring to their entire clientele. For
the past few days, she barely had a chance to rest except during meal times.
She''d had enough. She could no longer endure living in that damp and disgusting room. The foul-
smelling men who treated her like a ything made her feel like she was living a life worse than that of
a pig or a dog.
She secretly tore her sheets, intending to tie them to the iron bars covering the window and hang
herself.
Just as she was about to do it, the door was suddenly pushed open. The men guarding her saw her
actions and began to spew curses in anguage she didn''t understand. They dragged her off the bed
and began pummeling her brutally and mercilessly.
The strips of cloth she had intended to use for suicide became a tool to bind her to the bed.
The men who had beaten her showed no mercy, even though she was already covered in bruises.
She saw a short man entering her room, and then her eyes suddenly filled with an even greater
despair.
...
Saturday.
At Havenwood Opera House.
M''s concert was a grand affair, especially in Havenwood, where Debra was invited as a guest.
Debra, with his massive fan base and strong influence, made the concert tickets sell out the moment
the news was released.
Astrid had managed to get hold of seven tickets only after much effort.
Astrid was dressed up to the nines for the event since she was a big fan of M. Alfred joked that she
made it seem as if they were going to a matchmaking event rather than a concert.
Dorian and the others had also dressed formally for the asion.
Only Vivienne was still in a white T-shirt and jeans. She stood out like a sore thumb among the formally
dressed audience.
She wasn''t interested in M''s piano concert; she was just there to keep Astridpany and make her
happy.
She was bored and waiting for Percival to arrive when she noticed a middle-aged man trying to bypass
the metal detectors.
She frowned and walked over to him.
...
Backstage at the opera house.
Today, M also invited the Brooks family.
Out of courtesy, Judith and Scott had brought the whole family along.
They arrived earlier than Vivienne''s family, and Calista had personally led them to the backstage.
Calista was also dressed up. She wore a white split dress, her hair was tied up high, and her usual
spectacles were reced with contacts. She looked less like her usual dignified self and more like an
alluring vixen.
M, in a royal blue designer dress, had just finished her makeup. Upon seeing the Brooks family walk
in, she immediately greeted Judith with a beaming smile.
Judith returned the smile with a nod.
"Scott, do I look good today?" M''s gaze lingered on Scott. She intentionally showcased her figure.
"You once said blue suits me best."
"I did?" Scott couldn''t recall ever saying that.
"Yes, you did." M''s face flushed a little. She hadn''t seen Scott in two months, which was rare.
Over the years, she frequently visited the Brooks Mansion in Rivenwood, trying her best to get closer to
Scott.
Two months ago, just as she was nning to take their rtionship to the next level, Scott suddenly
acknowledged a daughter, Arabe.
Arabe was very smart and saw through her intentions towards Scott. She taunted M until she had
no choice but to back off.
Fortunately, Arabe wasn''t Scott''s biological daughter. Now, without Arabe around, there would be
no one to stop her from marrying Scott.
"Oh." Scott frowned but stillplimented her out of politeness. "You look fine."
M''s lips curled into a smile.
Ashley saw M''s expression and gave a knowing wink to Melissa and Judith, suppressing her
N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.
Everyone knew about M''s feelings for Scott over the years.
To be honest, Scott had been mourning Karen for many years. Now that Karen was gone, Judith, as a
mother, hoped that there would be someone who could care for her eldest son.
But if Scott had no feelings for M, she wouldn''t force him. After all, she knew how deep Scott''s
feelings for Karen were.
"M, there''s some disturbance at the entrance."
At that moment, a staff member came over to inform M about the disturbance.
"What''s going on?" M frowned. With her manager not around and unable to find anyone else, she
turned to Calista. "Calista, could you handle this?"
Calista nodded and followed the staff member to the entrance. She saw Vivienne standing there with a
cold expression behind Dorian''s family and Alfred.
Calista gave Vivienne a once-over, noticing her casual attire of a T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers. She
couldn’t help but sneer to herself.
Such poor taste!
She walked over and asked the middle-aged man, who was clearly confronting Vivienne. "What
happened?"
"This woman suddenly attacked me when I was entering!" The middle-aged man angrily pointed at
Vivienne.
Calista finally turned her attention to Vivienne. "M''s piano performances are a treat for individuals of
refined taste, not for those who thrive on creating a ruckus. Perhaps you should leave; I fear your
presence might tarnish the elegance of this ce."
Her tone was courteous, but she was clearly reprimanding her.
Vivienne nonchntly raised an eyebrow, giving Calista a casual nce. She clearly sensed the
hostility emanating from Calista.
"Miss, you''ve only heard one side of the story and have made your judgment without a single question.
Don''t you think you''re being rather hasty?" Astrid stepped forward, positioning herself protectively by
Vivienne''s side. My sister noticed this individual hiding a knife while trying to sneak past security into
the concert hall. That’s why she intervened! You can check the surveince footage if you don''t believe
me!"
She pointed at the onlookers around them. "If that''s not enough, you can ask them!"
The spectators nodded in agreement. "Yes, indeed. We saw the man drop a knife after this young
woman stopped him."
It was then that Calista noticed the knife lying on the floor.
"My sister risked her safety for the security of your concert. Yet, you insulted her." Astrid said coldly, "I
think an apology is in order."
The crowd agreed as they murmured, "Yes, indeed. You unfairly insulted her without understanding the
full situation."
"An apology is due."